Page 55 of Falling for Finn

I glare at Levi. “Please tell me you aren’t betting on football games with my grandpa again? If my mom finds out you two are back at it, you’redone.”

“Pfft, your mom loves me more than you,” he gloats, and that might be true. “Anyway, nice meeting you, Oakley. Hope we can hang out some more before you leave. I’d love to learn more about your art.”

“That’d be nice,” she admits, then grabs my hand again as Levi jogs through the crowd.

“Thanks for the artwork,” I tell Oakley. “I think out of all the paintings you’ve done this week, this one’s the best.”

She snorts. “Now, if you want to hangthatone above your toilet, go for it.”

“Oh, I planned on it.”

We wait in line for curly fries from one of the food trucks and then share a bag of cotton candy. Afterward, Oakley gets a caramel apple, but I pass. I’ve eaten enough of them as a kid to last me two lifetimes.

Once we’ve seen most of the activities, I check the time.

“We need to go get your other painting,” I remind her, so we walk hand in hand down the path to my truck.

“Has Aspen always treated Levi that way?” she asks.

“Yeah. I was stupid to ignore it and should’ve noticed all her red flags.”

Oakley squeezes my fingers. “At least he can give it as good as she tries to.”

“Levi’s not one to back down. He’s too nice most of the time, but when it comes to her passive-aggressive comments, he always puts her in her place.”

“Must’ve been uncomfortable for your girlfriend and best friend not to get along.”

“It was. Honestly, I should’ve put a stop to it a long time ago, but it’s not my problem anymore.”

Once I unlock the truck, she grabs the inn painting, and I set the tiny heart canvas on the dash. When we return to the celebration, we find hay bales in front of the stage to sit and wait.

The band warms up and opens with a Beatles cover. I check my watch, realizing we have a little under an hour before it’s showtime.

“I like Levi. He seems like a nice guy,” Oakley tells me, sitting so damn close, I can feel her body warmth.

“He’s always been one of the friendliest, kindest people I’ve ever known. The man wouldn’t harm a fly and would give anyone the shirt off his back in the middle of a snowstorm if they needed it. That’s how he’s always been.”

“Hard to believe he’s not married.”

Right as I’m about to speak, my cousin Jessa plops down on the other side of me. I nearly knock Oakley off the edge, then hurry and catch her while keeping hold of the canvas.

“Jessa!” I growl, turning toward her.

“Oops, sorry,” Jessa hurries to help Oakley, who’s laughing at her antics. “I didn’t realize I had so much oomph in my trunk.”

“It’s fine. I think I need to find a bathroom, though,” Oakley admits, and I can tell she’s growing more nervous.

“The inn will be your best bet,” I tell her. “Do you want me to walk you?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll be right back.”

I watch as she walks away, then when I turn to Jessa, she’s grinning like a fool.

“You’re in love with her.”

I make a face. “What?”

“Dude, it’s so ridiculously obvious. Tell me…is this girlfriend act real or fake?”

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